By Hyonhee Shin
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s military announced on Monday that it has detected indications of North Korea preparing to deploy additional troops and weaponry, including suicide drones, to Russia in support of its conflict with Ukraine.
Pyongyang has already supplied 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers to Russia. It was observed that North Korea is gearing up to manufacture more suicide drones for shipment following a recent test overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, as reported by Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
An official from the JCS stated, “Suicide drones have been a key focus for Kim Jong Un,” and confirmed that North Korea has expressed its intention to provide them to Russia.
These drones have been extensively utilized in the Ukraine conflict. Kim Jong Un has ordered a significant increase in the production of these aerial weapons as well as an enhancement of military doctrine and education, citing escalating global competition, according to state media reports.
Seoul, Washington, and Kyiv have estimated that there are roughly 12,000 North Korean troops stationed in Russia. The JCS disclosed that at least 1,100 of them have been either killed or injured, consistent with the recent briefing from South Korea’s intelligence agency, which reported approximately 100 casualties and 1,000 wounded in the Kursk region.
The official further warned that North Korea’s strengthening military relationship with Moscow could pose heightened threats to Seoul as it upgrades its conventional forces, which are considered inferior to those of the South, while also gaining combat experience.
Along the heavily fortified Korean border, North Korea has dispatched up to 10,000 soldiers to transform the area into a desolate landscape by erecting barriers and barbed wire in recent weeks. However, the numbers decreased to several hundred over the weekend, according to the JCS.
The JCS released images depicting a group of North Korean soldiers testing an electrified wire fence using a goat.
Additionally, the JCS suggested that North Korea may conduct a test launch of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile towards the end of the year ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, while also releasing more garbage-filled balloons towards South Korea.
Since late May, North Korea has launched numerous balloons carrying bags of trash in response to propaganda leaflets flown by South Korean activists.
The JCS official cautioned, “With Russian support, they are likely to attempt various strategic provocations next year, such as launching intercontinental ballistic missiles and conducting a nuclear test to bolster their bargaining power with the U.S.”
On Monday, South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo held a telephone conversation with the new U.S. Forces Korea commander, Xavier T. Brunson.
Han stressed the importance of South Korea and the U.S. jointly maintaining a vigilant security posture, as North Korea could misinterpret Seoul’s “grave situation” and engage in various provocations like ballistic missile launches, according to a statement from Han’s
